Agenda Item #
Columbus Consolidated Government
Council Meeting
03/27/2018
Agenda Report #
TO: Mayor and Council
SUBJECT: FEMA Disaster Relief funds for Hurricane Irma expenses
INITIATED BY: Finance Department
Recommendation: Approval is requested to permit the City Manager or his
designee to request and accept, as awarded, Public Assistance funds from the
Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) for reimbursement of disaster
response, recovery, and sheltering expenses associated with the
Presidentially-declared disaster caused by Hurricane Irma on and around
September 11, 2017 and to coordinate the reporting, receipt, and disbursement
of these reimbursements with applicable city departments and to enter into a
MOU with Columbus Public Health Department and Midtown Medical Center for the
receipt and disbursement of FEMA funds for expenditures they incurred.
Background: Hurricane Irma landed in the Southeast in early September 2017 and
travelled to and beyond Columbus on September 11, 2017, resulting in a
Presidentially-declared disaster covering the area. As a result, the city of
Columbus and other local agencies involved are eligible for reimbursement of
expenditures related to emergency response, recovery, and sheltering of
evacuees.
Analysis: Expenses eligible for reimbursement by FEMA include but are not
limited to, debris removal, emergency services, medical services and supplies,
transportation, housing and food services for over 600 evacuees, and repair or
replacement of damaged assets.
Financial Considerations: There is no additional cost to the city to receive
these reimbursements and no local matching funds required. All expenditures
have already occurred. This program will reimburse the city for those
expenditures that qualify under the FEMA disaster relief program. Some
reimbursements will belong to the Health Department and Columbus Regional, but
the city will incur no obligation for these reimbursements, as they will only
be forwarded after receipt by FEMA.
Projected Annual Fiscal Impact Statement: This funding will reimburse the City
for expenditures already incurred. There is no additional cost to the City.
Legal Considerations: The City is eligible to receive these funds as a result
of disaster #4338DR. Because the Health Department and Midtown Medical Center
are not affiliated with the City, but need to be on the same application as the
City, the City will need to issue a MOU to govern the receipt and disbursement
of funds due to them.
Recommendations/ Actions: Authorize a resolution to approve the City to
request reimbursement of eligible expenditures incurred as a result of this
disaster, and if awarded, accept funds from FEMA and disburse funds received as
appropriate to the corresponding city departments and entering into a MOU with
Columbus Public Health and Midtown Medical Center for the receipt and
disbursement of funds due to them from FEMA.
A RESOLUTION
NO. _____
A RESOLUTION AUTHORIZING THE CITY MANAGER OR HIS DESIGNEE TO APPLY FOR AND
ACCEPT, AS AWARDED, FEDERAL EMERGENCY MANAGEMENT (FEMA) FUNDS FOR SUPPLEMENTAL
ASSISTANCE FOR RESPONSE, RECOVERY, AND EMERGENCY SHELTERING COSTS IN A
PRESIDENTIALLY DECLARED DISASTER, WHICH WILL REIMBURSE THE CITY FOR DAMAGES AND
EXPENDITURES RESULTING FROM THE PASSAGE OF HURRICANE IRMA IN AND AROUND
SEPTEMBER 11, 2017, AND TO ENTER INTO AN MOU GOVERNING THE RECEIPT AND
DISBURSEMENT OF FUNDS AS RECEIVED WITH THE COLUMBUS PUBLIC HEALTH DEPARTMENT
AND MIDTOWN MEDICAL CENTER.
WHEREAS, Hurricane Irma hit the Southeast in early September, 2017; and,
WHEREAS, a Presidential disaster declaration, 4338DR, was issued on September
07, 2017, making the area eligible for public assistance; and,
WHEREAS, as a result of the hurricane, over 600 evacuees from Florida and
southern Georgia were sheltered in Columbus; and,
WHEREAS, the city and local agencies incurred expenses sheltering and caring
for these evacuees; and,
WHEREAS, high winds and heavy rains caused storm damage and the need for
emergency services and debris removal; and,
WHEREAS, the City, as primary recipient, will coordinate the collection,
reporting, and reimbursement of these expenditures and facilitate disbursement
of appropriate funds to reimburse expenditures incurred by other local agencies
who assisted in emergency services and care of sheltered individuals, but will
not incur any obligation for funds due other agencies, as no funds will be
forwarded to these agencies until after receipt from FEMA. The City will enter
into an MOU with these outside agencies to govern the receipt and disbursement
of funds due to them.
NOW, THEREFORE, THE COUNCIL OF COLUMBUS, GEORGIA, HEREBY RESOLVES AS FOLLOWS:
That the City Manager or his designee is hereby authorized to contract with
FEMA for the reimbursement of allowable costs associated with emergency
response, damages, debris removal and sheltering associated with the Hurricane
Irma disaster and amend appropriate fund budgets as needed for the receipt and
disbursement of funds and enter into an MOU with Columbus Public Health and
Midtown Medical Center for the receipt and disbursement of funds due them.
___________
Introduced at a regular meeting of the Council of Columbus, Georgia, held the
_________ day of _____________ 2018, and adopted at said meeting by the
affirmative vote of _____________ members of said Council.
Councilor Allen voting __________.
Councilor Baker voting __________.
Councilor Barnes voting __________.
Councilor Davis voting __________.
Councilor Garrett voting __________.
Councilor Huff voting __________.
Councilor Thomas voting __________.
Councilor Turner Pugh voting __________.
Councilor Woodson voting __________.
_______________________________ ________________________
Tiny B. Washington, Clerk of Council Teresa Pike Tomlinson, Mayor
Attachments
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